After two hours of debate and appeals to both the children and the businesses, Halifax Regional Council voted against the installation of bike lanes on Herring Cove Road.
Councillors voted 13-9 last night to keep the section of Herring Cove Road between Old Sambro Road and Arthur Street a four-lane roadway.
A staff report suggested reducing the number of lanes of traffic to two and installing two bike lanes on the road during a $1.1-million resurfacing project, awarded to Dexter Construction Ltd.
If approved, the bike lanes would not reduce the physical size of the street, but reduce the vehicle lanes to two plus a centre turning lane.
Spryfield-Herring Cove Coun. Steve Adams presented a petition signed by 2,639 residents opposed to the street reduction, appealing to council to accept the will of the community.
But South End Coun. Sue Uteck noted a similar debate took place over Chebucto Road in 2008, when council voted to widen a section of that road despite petitions and concerns from residents.
Adams said he is not opposed to bike lanes, in general.
“I’m not opposed to bike lanes. I’m opposed to reducing the width of the roadway to take away two lanes,” said Adams.
